Irian kidnapping won't likely hurt RI image abroad
Irian kidnapping won't likely hurt RI image abroad
JAKARTA (JP): While it may not turn out to be another
international embarrassment, experts believe the kidnapping of
seven foreigners by separatist guerrillas in Irian Jaya may still
unsettle the country's image abroad.
The deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute,
Juwono Sudarsono, said such methods are a standard for minority
groups bidding for wider attention.
"I think we have to get used to it because in the era of
information globalization any local claim can be brought before
international opinion," he told The Jakarta Post.
Juwono pointed out that other causes, such as those in Kashmir
and Afghanistan, continue to attract international attention
through similar tactics.
"It is the only way for them to gain the international
spotlight," remarked Juwono who is also professor of political
sciences at the University of Indonesia.
Military analyst Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hasnan Habib warned that
while the kidnapping presently remains in the fringes of
international attention, any attempt to free the captives which
results in the death of any of the foreign hostages will bring
international condemnation of Indonesia.
"If we settle this in such a way that causes the death of the
foreigners we will be slammed," Hasnan told the Post late
Wednesday evening.
He pointed to the international chiding Russia received for
its actions in the breakaway republic of Chechnya as an example.
On the other hand, if the kidnappers execute any of the
hostages then any sympathy for their cause will quickly
evaporate, he said.
Hasnan expressed support for the strategy military forces are
adopting in this crisis, saying that negotiation should only be
directed towards securing the release of the hostages, not to
acquiesce to the demands of the kidnappers.
He exclaimed that areas such as Irian Jaya, East Timor and
Aceh which all have strong separatist movements, remain a sore
point which could be easily manipulated to embarrass Indonesia.
"Those places are sensitive areas which could be exploited to
grab world attention on issues of human rights and social
justice," Hasnan remarked.
The former ambassador to Washington added that local officials
in these areas must truly comprehend the problems and offer
solutions to avoid discontent among the people.
"The local officials must understand the true situation there
and not just report what they like," he said.
Meanwhile from London, special Jakarta Post correspondent
Aboeprijadi Santoso reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas stressed that the government is pursuing peaceful methods
in seeking the release of the hostages.
"We can understand the British government's concern over her
citizens and Indonesia will try to release the hostages through
peaceful means, by persuasion, not by a military operation,"
Alatas said.
Alatas is in London this week to attend Tuesday's Trilateral
talks on East Timor with his Portuguese counterpart Jaime Gama
and United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Alatas continued his stay with a working visit in which he met
with several cabinet ministers and is due to meet with British
Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkin today.(mds)